Gas mileage better after towing??

[{tpc}]

Ok, must of you are going to read that topic and say "duh, of course it is" lol, but thats not quite what i'm getting at.

Referring to the computer gas mileage which I agree is most often not correct. Has anyone experienced this mileage actually improving from their normal after an extended tow period?

I'll break it down. Prior to last trip to Custer SD (our longest trip yet, 1200+ miles) I would say the computer would tell me anywhere from 17.9 - 18.1 mpg. Actual mileage is indifferent as I am just making a comparision.

During the length of the trip (reset everything after the trailer was hitched up) I was reading 10.5 - 11.0 mpg roughly. I locked the gears out so the highest I could ride in was 7th gear, around 2500 rpms at 68 mph. This kept me out of the boost quite a bit, save for some hills and such.

Unhitched while in that area, I never reset the computer but the mileage seemed amazing. We we there for a week. I attributed it to better gas? Maybe to different elevation that the truck preferred? Struck me as odd but I wasn't complaining.

After we returned, I filled up, and reset the computer. I am now showing 18.9 - 19.1 mpg. Its been over 1000 miles since then, so I would think the computer is well adjusted. I have noticed that the boost gauge doesn't light up as often, but its not as if the turbos are failing, they just seem to come in at a different tip-in rate.

This happen to anyone else? Do you think it is because during break in I tried to be constantly varying speeds for the break mileage, during the entire time, but during this trip I was on cruise in 7th, humming along for miles and miles on end? Maybe the computer adjusted to that type of driving? Was the truck not broke in before and it is now? (though I have 26k on the truck lol).

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[dhrandy]

I don't have any turbos, but I haven't been able to tell any difference with my 5.0. I can't tell you that I don't care for how the fuel mileage takes a while to adjust the miles until empty when you hookup a trailer. It knows there's a trailer, it could have a quicker adjustment.

 

[{tpc}]

I don't have any turbos, but I haven't been able to tell any difference with my 5.0. I can't tell you that I don't care for how the fuel mileage takes a while to adjust the miles until empty when you hookup a trailer. It knows there's a trailer, it could have a quicker adjustment.

If you reset AVG mpg and the trip calculator it goes a little faster, I think, but not much for the DTE. Usually by the last 1/4 of the tank its pretty close.

 

[nikon858]

I had the same experience. Towed a 30’ camper about 300 miles, a couple bridges where it was in boost for a while I think it just helped break everything in. My mileage was maybe 18-19 before with mostly highway driving. Now I average about 22.

 

[Hank573]

2022 XLT Supercrew 2.7L. ......Round trip from South Carolina to Florida averaged 27.8.

 

[themcmercslr]

Anecdotally, I have a track car with a twin turbo inline 6, DI only. When I still regularly drove that car on the street, it would idle a lot smoother for about 2 weeks after every track event. Towing maybe has that 'Italian tuneup' effect, perhaps it helps clean the top of the valves off some, but I doubt it since these are also PI. I never noticed any mpg improvements after towing (5k open car trailer) with my 2020 3.5, though

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